By Abdullahi Abubakar.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ado Ibrahim has commended the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on his remarkable achievements in ensuring Kogi State is free of criminal and criminality at all time.
The respected monarch disclosed this when the Chief of Army Staff and other top military officers visited him at the Azad Palace in Okene on Friday.
The royal father maintained that the Governor, an energetic young man, is much concerned about the welfare of his people and has really done remarkably well to entrench peace and attract sustainable development to Ebiraland and indeed Kogi State.
Dr. Ado thanked the Nigerian Army for the gesture saying though the land is not at war but it is necessary as a pro-active measure to locate the barracks in order to improve investors confidence and of course put to rest some pockets of criminality still witnessed in the Ebiraland and environs.
According to him, some communities in the country do appeal for what his land got without asking for it, therefore, extended his gratitude on behalf of the traditional council and the people of Ebiraland for the priceless land mark gift.
Earlier in his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, represented by the Commander in charge of Army Training and Doctrine, Maj. Gen. Ademoh Adeku Salihu, said they were in the palace to inform the royal father that the Nigerian Army have concluded arrangements to locate 109 Special Forces Batallion Barracks in Okene, Kogi State to checkmate the rising incidences of killings, kidnappings and other vices in the land.
Maj. Gen. Salihu also took time to condole the royal father over the demise of his dear son which sad event occurred some weeks ago.
Also in a keynote remarks, the head of the state government delegation and Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr. (Dr) Abubakar Sadiq Ohere eulogised the visionary prowess of the Governor, saying the young, energetic and pragmatic Governor is poised to entrenched lasting peace in the State.
While soliciting for genuine support from all stakeholders, he maintained that, there can be no meaningful developments in a society without peace and security.
The Special Adviser also made it known that, aside the Army Barracks, the Army will also establish Nigerian Military School in Okene which will also in no small measure be of benefit to the host community.
Other places visited by the Chief of Army Staff and the state government delegation were; the Okene Secondary School (OSS), former Okene Teachers’ College (OTC) and Army Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Achoze.
“Aside other developmental strides, this is further more, a clear proof to the already known fact that Governor Yahaya Bello is committed to achieving a prosperous Kogi State which all Kogites will be proud of,” Ohere noted.
